
<p>Renowned soccer writer and broadcaster Guillem Balague recently spent time in Miami at Soccerex 2023 to talk about his career and Lionel Messi. Balague has a book about the captains of FC Barcelona coming out. Plus, he recently updated his authorized biography of Lionel Messi. Messi plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. Therefore, the buzz that he is creating in the city is palpable. For example, Balague went to the ‘Messi Experience,’ which debuted during Soccerex.</p>



<p>In a video on Twitter Balague published, he documented his travels in the United States. Balague was the featured speaker at Soccerex. There, he had a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/guillem-balague-to-discuss-messi-in-miami-with-world-soccer-talk-20231111-WST-469379.html">lengthy discussion with World Soccer Talk’s Kartik Krishnaiyer</a>. While Balague’s video does not have the full interview with Krishnaiyer, he does feature a one-minute snippet of the two’s chat. </p>



<p>That focused on Messi’s first contact with Balague. The journalist holds the distinction of writing the only biography of Messi the Argentine authorized. </p>



<p>“I went to the Messi family, and I said I want to book about Messi. They told me ‘No chance, no chance,&apos;” Balague said. “Not only are we not going to help you, but we will not support any book. There have been some telling stories that are not true about Leo.”</p>



<p>Balague worked with the Messi family to tell the truth about Lionel Messi. Balague has been regularly updating the book since its first publishing in 2013. Therefore, the newest update of the book discusses Messi finally winning the World Cup with Argentina. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This week&apos;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoffeeWithGuillem?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoffeeWithGuillem</a> is from Miami, around the <a href="https://twitter.com/Soccerex?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Soccerex</a> conference. I ask some relevant people about Messi, his influence, and how he can change football in the US.<br><br>The book is out in the UK and I present it in <a href="https://twitter.com/BhamWaterstones?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BhamWaterstones</a> on 24 Nov:<br><br>🎟️ <a href="https://t.co/OBRTKM4gLf">https://t.co/OBRTKM4gLf</a> <a href="https://t.co/hsCAAdIas6">pic.twitter.com/hsCAAdIas6</a></p>— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) <a href="https://twitter.com/GuillemBalague/status/1726256242912551287?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>Guillem Balague sheds light on Messi moving to Inter Miami</h2>



<p>Throughout much of the video, Balague catches up with other journalists in the soccer world. For example, he talks to Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald, Fernando Palomo from ESPN, Matheus Sanchez from WLRN in South Florida and more. With each, Balague asks what their career has been like since Messi moved to Inter Miami. He has been integral to promoting the popularity of Major League Soccer as seen with subscriptions to MLS Season Pass. </p>



<p>What is clear throughout Balague’s trip to Miami is that Messi has had a profound impact on the soccer scene. Not only was Balague’s discussion with Krishnaiyer about Messi the focus on the main stage. The Messi Experience made its debut. That shows Messi’s reach in the soccer world.</p>



<h2>Balague still working with CBS on content</h2>



<p>The Spaniard traveling to Miami is part of a busy schedule that he organizes. For many viewers in the United States, Balague is the sideline reporter at many of the biggest games in the UEFA Champions League. As part of his work with CBS, Balague has promoted the <em>Stories of the Beautiful Game</em>. Balague’s <em><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/paramount-set-to-release-docuseries-about-uefa-champions-league-20230516-WST-433096.html">Destination: European Nights</a></em> chronicles his travels across the biggest stages in European soccer. </p>



<p>Few journalists have the ability to capture a player, club or city like Balague. That is why CBS and Paramount+ have no fear of sending him across Europe to cover the game. For example, he was in Georgia to <a href="https://twitter.com/GuillemBalague/status/1636387616290648066" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">follow the background of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia</a> during Napoli’s run to the Scudetto and the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League last season. </p>



<p>Still, his work with Lionel Messi stands out in an exceptional career. </p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>


Guillem Balague travels to Miami to talk Messi and new book

Renowned soccer writer Guillem Balague recently spent time in Miami at Soccerex 2023 to talk about his career and Lionel Messi.


<p>Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue wants <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a> (MLS) to eventually become the best soccer league in the world. The executive at the mammoth tech company cited the sheer economic power of the United States. He made the claims at the recent Soccerex Miami event.</p>



<p>“When I think of America, it’s the biggest country in the world, the most [powerful] economic country in the world,” stated Cue. “So, when I looked at soccer, people think it’s crazy, but why wouldn’t we have the best soccer league in the world? Why wouldn’t the best players want to play here?” </p>



<p>“When I looked at the 10 years, yeah, in my mind, we got into this because we thought that together, we could build the best soccer league in the world. That’s the goal. That’s the objective. You know, we’re trying to be the best. Otherwise, why do it?”</p>



<h2>Apple executive expects MLS to challenge as the best league with the help of Messi</h2>



<p>Cue went on to acknowledge the leagues currently atop the global charts as the biggest soccer divisions. However, he also emphasized the impact that Lionel Messi has had on MLS so far. The Argentine superstar arrived at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/inter-miami-tv-schedule/">Inter Miami</a> earlier this summer with much fanfare. Ticket prices and jersey sales initially soared as many caught Messi mania.</p>



<p>Although Miami failed to reach the playoffs this season, the Apple exec is expecting Messi’s effect on soccer here Stateside to continue well into the future. The World Cup winner currently has two more years under contract with the MLS side.</p>



<p>“Obviously, right now there’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">La Liga</a>, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-tv-schedule/">Serie A</a> and all that standpoint around, all these different leagues,” continued Cue. “But you’re starting to see this – Messi wanting to come play here says a whole lot. There’s a lot of players that are going to want to come play here and be part of this growth, of this opportunity.” </p>



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<p>“And so, when I go out and look at the 10 years, the way we’re going to measure it is, are we going to be one of the best leagues in the world? That’s success. That’s what we need to be striving for.”</p>



<h2>Recent studies claimed that MLS did not crack the top 25 leagues</h2>



<p>Despite Cue’s comments, MLS has a long way to go to challenge the likes of the Premier League and LaLiga. A <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/study-mls-ranked-29th-most-competitive-soccer-league-in-world-20230125-WST-416694.html">study</a> released earlier in the year ranked MLS as the 29th most competitive soccer league in the world. The analysis was done by sports intelligence agency Twenty-First Group.</p>



<p>While the study was conducted before Messi’s arrival, another review of soccer leagues was released in August. This was, of course, just one month after the Argentine’s arrival to the States. Opta compiled the new list of top soccer leagues in the world and MLS found themselves in a familiar position. The United States-based company claimed that MLS was once again the 29th-best league.</p>



<p>Apple previously agreed a 10-year deal with MLS to become their streaming partner ahead of the 2023 season. There is still plenty of time for the league to grow before the aforementioned deal expires. However, the tech company will be hoping that the league can attract more talent in the upcoming offseason.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231117_WST_470985_MLS-Cup-trophy-1200x675.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="MLS Cup trophy" class="wp-image-471070" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/MLS-Cup-trophy-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/MLS-Cup-trophy-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/MLS-Cup-trophy-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/MLS-Cup-trophy.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Apple needs to look in the mirror</h2>



<p>Part of the challenge for Major League Soccer to become “the best soccer league in the world” is self-induced by Apple. The giants of world football —&nbsp;Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, etcetera —&nbsp;generate their largest percentage of revenue from TV deals. With Major League Soccer receiving a minimum guarantee of $250 million per season from Apple for global rights, that’s a tiny drop in the bucket compared to other leagues. For instance, the Premier League receives a total of $4.3 billion per season from its worldwide rights deals.</p>



<p>If Apple is serious about its goal to make MLS the best soccer league in the world, it needs to start by paying MLS considerably more money.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em>.</p>


Apple wants MLS to be the best soccer league in the world

One of Apple's top executives says he wants MLS to become the best soccer league in the world. Apple needs to take a look in the mirror.

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Guillem Balague

Guillem Balague travels to Miami to talk Messi and new book

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Apple wants MLS to be the best soccer league in the world